Nissan recently dropped off a 2011 Altima CPE 2.5 S. The car looked sharp, and as I soon found out, it’s also a blast to drive.
Exterior
The projector beam headlights on the 2011 Altima are aggressive and very stylish. One could easily mistake the Altima for the pricier and larger Nissan Maxima (that’s not a bad thing for Altima buyers!). The model we tested was Navy Blue, equipped with 17″ Alloy Wheels, dual chrome-tipped exhaust finishers, body-color front and rear splash guards and UV reducing solar glass. All together, the car looked like a sporty but sizable vehicle. The 2011 Altima has an overall length of 190.7 inches so you’re not jumping into a sub compact.
Interior
When I first entered the 2011 Altima Coupe I could see a fine line between this car and and a sports car. You really do get the feel of a sports car with the room of a midsize. The front bucket seats are comfortable and the charcoal cloth trim in our model looked and felt great. The rear access passenger seat lever makes it easy to enter and exit the back seats, which also provide ample room for two passengers. The center dashboard is where the action is at. The XM satellite radio sounded great with a Bose nine speaker system. The USB port with iPod connectivity, a 4.3″ display with a very helpful rearview monitor, built-in Bluetooth hands-free phone system, a dual-zone auto temperature control system and push button start round out the interior feature set. The sporty, leather-wrapped steering wheel fits right in with this crafty interior layout. Trunk space is limited, but the 60/40 rear seat fold down can add some space for longer objects. The review model did have a moon roof but driving during January in the midwest is no time to enjoy that feature. Speaking of the roof, I did notice a lack of headroom, which was the most glaring drawback in the 2011 Altima Coupe.
Performance
As much as I liked the 2011 Altima Coupe, the performance was probably the most memorable aspect of the car as it performed handsomely. The 2.5-liter DOHC 16 valve 4-cyclinder engine had quick response and the 175 horsepower with 180 lb-ft torque had the power I desired. The power was also smooth considering the continuous variable transmission and sequential multi-point fuel injection system. The power rack and pinion steering played a key role in the above average handling of the 2011 Altima especially when taking tight turns at decent speeds. I dealt with a lot of snow during my time behind the Altima’s wheel and the traction control and anti-lock braking system worked like a charm. The Altima performed much better than larger vehicles I have driven in these conditions.
Overview
The 2011 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5 S I drove stickered out at $27,965. At that price you get tons of style for the money. In a very crowded field of midsize cars, the 2011 Altima coupe stands out as it really hits the mark for those who want the sporty looks and better than average handling. Fuel economy also comes in very solid at 23mpg city and 32mpg highway. The more time I spent in the 2011 Altima Coupe 2.5 S, the more I liked it. I’m willing to bet you would agree.
